Molluscum contagiosum is common in HIV disease and available therapies have a poor success rate and require frequent clinic visits. Interferon α has been used to treat recalcitrant condylomata acuminata and this study was undertaken to assess the use of this treatment in unresponsive molluscum contagiosum.
A total of 30 molluscum contagiosum were injected with one megaunit of interferon α weekly for 4 weeks; 11 molluscum contagiosum completely cleared and 18 reduced in size by over 50%. Molluscum less than 0.5 cm in diameter, and those in patients without AIDS were more likely to respond. No surrounding lesions changed in size.
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